THE FELL HOUNDS 59 



same type, is suitable, there should be no difficulty 

 in securing proper awards. 



Fell hounds are, owing to the roughness of their 

 country, far more liable to accidents than hounds 

 which hunt the low ground. Considering the 

 dangerous nature of their work, it is really sur- 

 prising how comparatively few serious accidents 

 occur. A severe loss through distemper or other 

 causes is more to be feared, as it takes time and 

 patience to fill the gaps thus made in the pack. 

 All the fell packs are small, and seldom, if ever, 

 have hounds to spare, and few outside packs possess 

 hounds of a type in the least suited to the country ; 

 so the fell-country Master has to rely on hounds of 

 his own breeding. There is one temptation to 

 which fell hounds are more Uable to fall than low- 

 country hounds, i.e. sheep worrying. It may be a 

 wild, windy day, and hounds are on a catchy scent, 

 and eager to be pushing on. No one is near them, 

 and perhaps a young hound happens to view a 

 solitary Herdwick sheep scurrying off. He gives 

 chase, pulls down the sheep, and his example may 

 be followed by several others. When this happens 

 the huntsman is reluctantly forced to put down 

 the culprits, no matter how short of hounds he 

 may be at the time. 



Although, luckity, such a contretemps as the 

 above seldom happens, it is always liable to happen 

 with certain young hounds. Death is the only cure for 



